Adjustable offset ladder



March 4, 1952 w, MITH 2,587,659

ADJUSTABLE OFFSET LADDER Filed Dec. 9, 1949 r g MAM/m C7 JM/T/i Patented Mar. 4, 1952 UNITE Siii ADJUSTABLE OFFSET LADDER William C. Smith, Brentwood, Md.

Application December 9, 1949, Serial No. 132,184

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 3'70 0. G. 757) 2 Claims.

' without payment to me of any royalty thereon in accordance with the provisions of the act of April 30, 1928 (ch. 460, 45 Stat. L. 467).

This invention relates to step ladders having retractible leg and particularly to one which has a secondary leg for supporting one end of one or more steps or rounds between the floor level and the first full width step. In the accompanying drawings which are illustrative of a preferred embodiment of my invention:

Figure 1 is an elevation of my ladder with one adjustable length side rail or leg and one adjustable length brace leg in retracted position.

Figure 2 is a side elevation as seen from the right of Figure 1.

Figure 3 i an enlarged detail of a portion of the retractible leg showing a preferred means for clamping the retractible section in any desired position.

In these drawings:

I represents a novel oiiset ladder member which includes a side rail H, a top step 12, and intermediate steps It, It, and I5 of the type commonly used in step ladders. A companion side rail [6 i rigidly secured to the steps I2, i3, i4, and I5 while a retractible rail section ll is secured to the main'side rail 16 by U-shaped collars, or sleeves l8 and suitable wing bolts 59. A secondary side rail 20 is rigidly secured to the underside of the step E5 about midway between the side rails Ill and 15 to provide a support for one end of each of a plurality of steps 2! and 22. There are also provided a brace rail 23 corresponding to the side rail IE and a companion brace rail 24 corresponding to the side rail it upon which latter rail is adjustably mounted a retractible rail section 25, corresponding to the rail section ii. The rail section 25 is also attached to the section 24 by sleeves i8 and Wing bolts [9.

The ladder may also be provided with a folding shelf 26 and a folding brace 21 of well known types.

My novel ladder is particularly adapted for use in narrow spaces left after the installation of counters, window air-conditioned units, desks, tables, or the like. Either or both of the adjustable side rail or adjustable brace may be supported upon the obstructing unit or article of furniture while the half width steps 21 and 22 provide a means for mounting the ladder without resort to the use of boxes or the like for climbing up to or down from the step i5. These ladders may be made in rights and lefts to provide the maximum utility of my invention. However, when the invention is applied to straight or extension ladders merely turning the ladder 180 degrees serves to convert it from a right to a left 2,587,659 GFICE and vice versa. By enabling the user of my ladder to move closer to his work than with the usual form of ladder the hazard of falling is materially reduced. Two or more may be used with planks to form a scaffold on sloping ground for painting or glazing a house.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only, and that the invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, in which it is my intention to claim all novelty inherent in my invention as broadly a possible in view of the prior art.

What is claimed is:

l. A step ladder of the class described including a front retractible leg, a companion front nonretractible leg, a secondary leg intermediate of said front outer legs, a plurality of steps connecting said secondary leg and said non-retractible leg below the highest position of said retractible leg and a rear bracing member comprising a retractible leg in alignment with said front retractible leg and a companion non-retractible leg.

2. A ladder including an outer front retractible leg, a companion outer non-retractible front leg, a secondary front leg intermediate of said outer front legs, a plurality of steps connecting said outer front legs, a second plurality of steps connecting said non-retractible front leg and said secondary front leg below the uppermost position of said front retractible leg, a rear bracing member comprising a retractible leg in alignment with said outer front retractible leg and a companion non-retractible bracing leg in alignment with said outer front non-retractible leg, whereby said ladder may be used in passages less than the width of the ladder with said two retractible legs supported on an offset such as a windowsill, a radiator or an article of ofiice furniture, while said non-retractible legs are supported on the floor adjacent to said ofiset support.

WILLIAM C. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Netherlands July 16, 1940 

